Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, 7 - 9 May

We enjoyed our allotment mooring so much that we stayed for a second night. Andrew had an Amazon order to collect from the post office nearby, and we needed a hardware shop. But there was also sightseeing to do.

Local magnate Thomas Bantock had bought a perfectly ordinary farmhouse and transformed it into a mansion with grounds. His son inherited, and had 6 daughters, none of whom wanted the place. So on his death he gave to the Council, as you do.

We were advised that all the furniture could be used unless marked otherwise, and indeed encouraged to make ourselves feel at home.

So there's Andrew, snug beside a Hobbit fireplace.

After such grandeur, we decided to treat ourselves to an upscale Italian restaurant just a few metres from our mooring, which was most enjoyable. 

Next morning, we had deal with a downside of boat  life. The loo had been blocking increasingly often, and it was time to take action.

I will draw a veil over what Andrew had to do, but I can confirm that I need a new towel.. Meanwhile I got on with other jobs, like washing the towpath half of the boat, and discovering why the baffle plate, inside the top of the stove cavity is so named. I needed to clean behind it. Easy, says the manual, just remove the liner bricks and it will swing down. Could I get them to move? No. I checked the section on replacing liner bricks,  because I was close to smashing them. Easy, says the manual, just stick them in with some dabs of fire retardant mortar. What !?! By the way, I also found there had been a mouse make a nest in the Chimney brush. Hey ho.

On our way by midday, my admiration for Andrew boundless. 

This is such a pretty canal. We were dropping down 6 locks and stopping for our last evening on this canal in Hinksford. Very pleasant, with many keen cyclists whizzing by. We stayed out of their way and tucked into Thai curry instead of braving the pub.

New waters tomorrow,  we have never been Stourbridge by any mode of transport.